John 'Click' Miller named Westfield's Memorial Day Parade Grand Marshal

The Westfield Memorial Day Parade Committee announce John “Click” Miller as this year’s Grand Marshal.

With a twinkle in his eyes and a warm smile Click, as his friends nicknamed him since childhood, reminisces about growing up in Westfield. As a lifelong resident Miller remembers kerosene lanterns, well water and horse drawn carriages. Images fit for a Currier & Ives postcard.

He and Marjorie, his wife of 64 years currently live in the house in Westfield where she was born. They have three children, Nancy Johnson, Carol Sica and John. They have five grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.

Miller attended Lincoln Grammar School, Roosevelt Junior High and Westfield High School on Elm Street. At Westfield High, Miller played varsity basketball and varsity baseball where he was named captain in 1944.

Miller has many great memories growing up in Westfield but one stands out reflecting the hospitality of his family. In 1937 his parents Elenor and Adam offered to take care of two children for a family in Elizabeth whose mother passed away and their dad could not adequately take care of their 10 children. Sara Anderson at 6-years-old and her sister, 4-year-old Grace lived with the Millers on Lamberts Mill Road until they were married. Miller remembers them as sisters and family.

For 36 years, Miller worked in the post office in Westfield as a carrier and then in management in Westfield and Mountainside. He was a crossing guard in Westfield for 22 years at the corner of North and Tuttle. He is a member of the Rotary Club of Mountainside and the American Legion Martin Wallberg Post 3 in Westfield.

Miller joined the U.S. Army in 1944. He trained in infantry and heavy artillery at Fort Knox, Kentucky, Fort Dix, New Jersey and Fort Mead, Maryland. From Fort Patrick Henry he left Norfolk, Virginia, to go overseas on the USS Wakefield, originally the Ocean Liner Manhattan, which was refurbished into a troop transport after it was bombed in Singapore Harbor on Dec. 7, the same day as the bombing in Pearl Harbor.

Miller spent time in Italy where he was hospitalized for scarlet fever. Recovering in Naples, Italy, he still remembers the sights, sounds and excitement on May 8, 1945 when the Germans surrendered.

Befitting this Memorial Day theme Miller proudly speaks of his Great Great Grandfather George Watts who was a member of the N.J. Volunteers in the Union Army during the Civil War.

Although baseball was part of Miller’s life growing up, the sport continued to be important to him. From 1990 to 2009, he played for a number of senior softball teams in Union County and played coast to coast. In 1998 his team, Tremont Hotel out of Baltimore, Maryland won the Senior Softball World Series in Dallas, Texas.

Miller has since retired from the sport but he certainly continues to “keep his eye on the ball.”

Congratulations John “Click” Miller as we honor the memories of veterans who have made the supreme sacrifice.

The parade committee would like to “remember” veterans of all wars who have passed away since last Memorial Day. Contact Stan at 908-233-2767 or srcuba@comcast.net with their name, branch of service and conflict, i.e., WWII, Korea, Vietnam, Desert Storm or action in the Far East.

The annual Westfield Memorial Day Parade is scheduled for Monday, May 26. Opening ceremonies will start at 9 a.m., with services at the World War I Veterans Memorial Monument at North Avenue and East Broad Street Plaza. Participants are requested to be in the Lord & Taylor West parking lot by 8 a.m.

After opening ceremonies, the parade route will go north on East Broad Street, straight up to Fairview Cemetery where the Veterans of Foreign Wars will have closing ceremonies.

Soft drinks will be available for all participants at Fairview Cemetery after conclusion of the parade.

All Westfield organizations are invited to march in this year’s parade.

The parade committee urges organizations or individuals to march in the parade, sponsor a wreath to be placed at the monument or make a financial contribution to the parade committee to help offset the costs of running the parade.

The Westfield Memorial Day Parade is sponsored by the American Legion Martin Wallberg Post 3 and the town of Westfield.